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"Best functionality and performance for the money!!! PERIOD." on by Sunworshipper
Pros: Cool Looking, Reliable, Nice Software package, No noise, Great Screen, Cool functional buttons,
Cons: Pen sometimes has it's own mind, weight, have to calibrate the pen for every position that you sit, resolution could be higher, no s-video port, offered HDs and video Cards could be better
Summary: Given that I did my research before spending my money on the cx200X I decided to share this review with you because I don't believe the editor rating does it justice!!!
First and foremost you should know that this is by far the best deal for the parts that you are getting. The same configuration will cost you more if you go with Dell, HP or Asus. That is a matter of fact!
Also don't believe the pictures on the Gateway site that you can be a girl and carry this thing rested on your arm and walk around your office taking notes like it weighs less then one pound.Of course you can certainly do that if you are on steroids and you are buff.
It's really not that heavy, but it's not that light either.
After using this computer for one week I can't imagine why all laptops are not tablets??? There is really no good reason for them not to be. Chatting on messenger by writing your messages is wicked cool.
Handwriting emails and notes?)) Supercool!
The CX200X looks very flashy. With blue leds and cool functional buttons. You can rotate the screen in 2 landscape and 2 portrait views with a simple push of a button. So: rotating your desktop by 90 degrees with every push. That pretty much eliminates the complaints of people that would like to hold it in a different way, because: Hey hold it any way you want!
I read that some people complained about the locking of the screen?! What? It works great. The screen is not loose when you are not in table mode. It will stay in the position you set it. The cool thing is that if someone sits next to you, you can say: Hey check this out and turn the screen towards them! Exciting!!! haha j/k
Now lets switch to tablet mode and talk a bit about that.
I was somewhat of a tablet virgin in a sense that I haven't had the opportunity to play with one before I got mine, but I really LOVE IT! The pen is on the left bottom and pops up with a slide of a button. Neat! It has a button on it which is used for right clicking. You can also touch an icon and hold your pen over it for a second and then when you release it's counted as a right click. You can really configure this any way you want. (how fast you tap for double click, area of recognition, blah blah blah)
There are 3 modes for writing when using the pen:
1. Freestyle (and pray to God that your handwriting will be recognized)
2. Letter by letter (there are areas where you write your letters separately [works for me since my handwritting is plain horrible]}
3. Touch symbols and letters on a virtual keyboard (kind of beats the purpose)
I suggest you bookmark your websites that you visit often so you don't sweat when the computer recognizes grooming when you write google. You can practice your handwriting and get better. There are PLENTY of Tutorials of how to really make use of this computer. The Tutorials are interractive and they are Great!
Sometimes the pen will throw in a dot and a line here and there (rare) that you didn't put. It's kind of annoying, but it's not a big deal.
Can you use the pen to draw in photoshop, flash etc??? Yes you can. The pen is really like a mouse, except it's way cooler. The moment you come close to the screen, a pointer comes out. The moment you use it to type something it will show you a button that you click to open the pen panel for writing etc.
Don't get me wrong. When I try to write nicely my handwriting is recognized 100%: it's freakin amazing.
The software that comes with the notebook is really good. You get some nice thingies like One Note which is wicked for utilizing the power of the pen. I hope that this will replace my lab notebook. Journal is another neat program: you push a button on the computer and the program is launched immediately so you can write, highlight, erase, put images and more and send it to onenote or send it as an email to your friend. It's amazing really!
The Pen and Paper Feel is bull! Let me tell you what my eye doctor said when I got my contacts: "You will always feel like there's something in your eye, because Guess WHAT?: There's something in your eye!". If you want a pen and paper feel, get a pen and paper. It's different!
I'm not saying it's bad. I like it. There is enough resistance for you to be happy when you write.
Anyway, if you are buying a laptop: GET A TABLET! It's much cooler, it is as fast as a normal laptop and it's very enjoyable!
This is my configuration:
1.86 ghz Pentium M 750
2X512 DDR2 Ram
ATI Mobility X600 64MB
12 cell battery
You could go up to 2 gigs of ram or get the 2.1 ghz processor , but you will be paying too much for performance you will likely not need from your notebook.
Obviously, this is not a gamer laptop, but it also doesn't weigh as much as the Alienware monster laptop you can build. This is a perfect day to day, office-home machine which is powerful, not very heavy and really, really, really, ridiculously good looking.
VIDEO CARD:
I was a bit dissapointed that the highest graphic card you can put in is the 64 mb X600 (given that X700 is a 128mb card and it's better). However, the fact of the matter is: If you are a gamer - Get a Desktop! If you are not: Get the ATI card because the ones that come in stock with the notebooks are really crappy. Pay the 100 bucks. It does make a difference!
Also, another cool thing is that the video card is on a PCI express SLOT!!! AAAAAND sometimes along the way if you decide to put a better one - you can replace it yourself.
S-Video Out
Like there is no space on the darn thing to drill another hole?!??! I don't know what Gateway was thinking when they didn't include this port. Most people that have laptops love to connect them to their TV and watch a DVD or some video download etc. Duh!
The good thing is, the ATI card does support TV-out function through the VGA connector. They claim that all you need is the cable adapter. Search ebay for VGA to tv converter. Please, please, please keep in mind that I did talk to 2 Gateway tech support reps and they said that this IS POSSIBLE, but I haven't tried it YET! If it is, the cable costs one dollar on ebay.
Either way, it is stupid not to have this port on a new model notebook.
Now, I have to share this with you:
I made the mistake of asking the S-video question to a sales rep because I was too lazy to call a tech support guy and he told me: No you can't do that, but we have a tv tuner card that you can use to watch TV on your notebook. Would you be interested in that?
Hi, we don't have any oranges, but you can use this grinder to grind your beef if you like?!!?? It's so annoying when you get the feeling that you know more about the product then the person who is selling it to you!!!
Anyway, I called tech support and they said that you can get the cable and connect the CX200X to a TV!
RAM:
How much ram do you need? 1 Gig of DDR 2 ram should be good enough for anyone. This is anticipating that 256 is a bare minimum for a good Windows XP performance. That's what I think anyway.
Hard Drive:
I got the 80 gig HD. The price difference was not so big for the extra 20 gigs. And now I'm going to quote my roommate and say "People say that your computer is as fast as your hard drive".
Not that I'm not going to get any sleep over it, but there are faster speed hard drives. It should be an option to put one of those in. (of course you can do this by yourself if you buy it separately).
And yes you can put all the software back on they do give you all the CDs.
Battery:
The 12 cell Battery lasts for about 6 hours with normal - surfing, word processing stuff. I got the bigger battery because I didn't care much about the extra weight and I want to have the computer working when I travel.
So far, I've been very happy with the CX200X and with Gateway customer support and the sales rep that sold it to me was very pleasant and knew her stuff. I recommend it without reservation! I hope that you will find my review useful in making your decision.
cheers! -
"Great Tablet PC, Highly recommend" on by grakn
Pros: Widescreen, Full size keyboard, great screen
Cons: somewhat sharp corners
Summary: This is a great Tablet - the best I've ever owned. The only thing I'm not sure about is the somewhat sharp corners... if I designed it, it would have a slight curve. I really enjoy the widescreen which has many advantages when used as a tablet and you experiment with the orientations. Unlike the CNET review, the reflective screen is an asset, not a disadvantage. The wi-fi range is outstanding and better than any notebook or tablet I've ever had. The machine is fast and the cooling is superb. If you are on the edge about getting a tablet or a notebook, check this model out... I think you'll be impressed.
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"Large Bright Screen- OnBoard EVERYTHING at fair cost to mobility" on by mindfull
Pros: Bright screen, Tablet PC functionality, 4hr+ battery life, onboard dvdr-cdr drive, media card slot, spacious kb, xlnt build quality
Cons: No internal bluetooth (no antenna), bulky charger, heavy for a tablet, fan runs frequently, limited pressure sensitivity (only really affects Graphics users)
Summary: If you've done even a little research, you know this is an extraordinary machine. For a slight markup from laptop retail, you can have all the extra functionality that a Tablet PC offers, including creating text-searchable handwritten notes/documents, as well as annotating documents with customizable ink & highlighter. That ink can be converted to text or left as handwriting. For more on the Tablet OS, go to www.TabletPC.com.
The CX200X has been a fantastic investment for me. I've been a Tablet owner/user since 2003, and have thoroughly enjoyed my Toshiba M200/M205, which is a 12" diag, 4lb wonder. The CX200X offers all the options I missed in my Toshiba, but at an understandable cost of portability.
With the CX200X, I now have a gorgeous & bright 14" screen that WOWs onlookers and is perfect for multi-media presentations (with a Tablet, you can swivel the screen to face the audience- very handy!). It also features an on-board DVD-RW/CD-RW drive which is a great plus! (No more hunting for USB cables and external drives). This machine also features a multi-card reader which I routinely use to transfer info to & from my DigiCam, Smartphone & cell phone.
A quick 1.83MHz Intel Centrino Processor offers great speed as well as Power Management, yielding fast multi-tasking and over 5 hrs use on 1 charge of the larger 12-cell battery. The batt charges quickly, despite its massive AC adapter (which I'd budget for replacing with an aftermarket model- see www.Kensington.com for universal laptop adaptors).
I also opted for the enhanced ATI video chip, which truly delivers on movie-playback, presentations & more. However, the stock system is sure to wow even picky users, so the upgrade is quite optional for most.
With 1GB RAM installed, my system is quick & responsive. With over 1.25GB, one runs into the MS Windows flaw that Hibernate may not work, but the word is that a fix is on its way for this... Just search MS Knowledge Base for "hibernate laptop" and you'll likely find what you need to know.
Wireless networking is very powerful on the CX. I've been thrilled with the connection speeds & reliability using the on-board Intel B/G card. It can be managed either by Windows (lightly customizable) or the Intel software (DEEPLY customizable). FYI, I use a WPA-secured dynamic network key, and the on-board card handles this flawlessly.
In all arenas, I've been pleased with this Tablet. I owe my pleasure in large part to a great deal of research before purchase. However, here are some notes on its less-glorious facets, so you're well-informed in advance:
1) This is a large & heavy system, at just under 7 lbs (same as Tecra M4, essentially). Some may find this too much for daily carry/use beyond the office desk. For me, it's livable (then again, I'm 6'3").
2) There is no option to add internal Bluetooth. I'm one of apparently few users for whom BT is a big deal currently. Though many seek it as an option, PC makers quote surveys that say it's actually used by very few. Well, count me among them- I connect with 4 peripherals by BT, and miss the functionality on this machine. I was thrilled to find a PC card with BT antenna by ZOOM that added BT without a "dongle" hanging off the USB ports. It also leaves my USBs free for other devices, and works while on Battery power. I highly recommend that add-on if BT is important to you.
3) The CX-series, like all Gateways, has a reputation for a highly-caffeinated fan, meaning it's often on. Personally, I'd prefer an over-active fan to a melted processor anyday, but the silent-pc types might disagree. I use this Tablet in meetings everyday, and have never had a complaint.
4) The keyboard is set quite a ways back, so I take my watch off when using it to avoid scratching the surface. A minor thing, but feels a bit impractical.
5) Some report ink-lag issues, though I've never experienced them on my system. The later the manufacture date, the better, and apparently I lucked out! Gateway offers a new improved pen/stylus for those who have any issues, at no cost.
6) The magnetic screen latch takes some getting used to. My first 3 attempts to lock the screen into tablet mode only resulted in frustration. Hey- i thought- Maybe I should actually read the manual! Indeed, that sorted things out quickly, and I now think the magnetic catch is a wiser design than any other Tablet I've tried (many!), b/c if dropped or ding-ed, it would allow the most "give".
7) There is no built-in fingerprint-reader on the CX-series. Since data security is important to me, I've password protected my login, as well as added a USB-drive with fingerprint security to encrypt my files/folders that need the security. The drive is by Lexar, and has worked reliably.
8) If xD cards are of importance to you, double-check that your system can use them. Mine was marketed as a 5-in-1 reader, but actually is only a 4-in-1 reader, lacking xD support. Gateway is willing to help address it (3-yr enhanced warranty), but I don't know it'd be worth the time sending in to the shop.
OK, I think I've addressed the major details, and even a few minor ones. Lastly, I'd encourage anyone looking at a Tablet PC to TEST-DRIVE the systems they're considering, and even a few others. You'll be amazed at how many different implementations there are of the Tablet OS, such as the screen-side buttons, etc. Just getting to know these differences will make you a much-more informed user, and you'll appreciate it when looking for features & options down the line. Thankfully, with a full desktop-replacement system like this, there are very few options you'll actually need to look into! Best of luck in your search & feel free to email for any additional details. -
"This is a very capable tablet with excellent features, great battery life, and rugged construction" on by tabletuser
Pros: Large screen, very sturdy allow hinge, continuous sensing pen, built-in optical drive, convenient scroll area on touchpad, 12-cell battery, flawless magnetic screen latch, excellent software package
Cons: Widescreen aspect ratio can be annoying at times, no latching mechanism for external monitor connector, sometimes hard to get taskbar with pen
Summary: I just got my CX200X yesterday. Gateway estimated arrival at 10 days. It took less than 5 days to get to me. I have spent about 10 hours getting aquainted with and setting up the computer. So far, I am impressed with the machine. I would highly recommend this tablet PC. I have been waiting almost two years for a good tablet with a large screen to come out. Twelve inch screens are just too small to get any work or play done. It seems that people are stuck on the idea that tablet PCs have to be ultra light and have infinite battery life, but all that means is that the tablet PC would be just an small electronic piece of paper. I think most people that own a tablet PC use it in conjuction with a desktop or as their sole computer. This means more than basic features are needed, and the market shows it. This is why convertibles are more popular than slate style tablet PCs. I understand that industry originally targeted businesses and professionals as their main market segment. This is why smaller and lighter where major design criteria (although I would argue that only small number of business segments require this, such as, healthcare and warehousing. The rest have desks or tables to put their tablet on most of the time). Only recently have manufacturers come around to realize the student and home user markets. These markets do not care as much about weight as they do features. I would prefer a tablet with a 15" or larger screen. If you cringe at the thought of that and say, "what about battery life?!", just remember, a larger screen equals more room for batteries.
Some say that the CX200 too heavy for mobile users. I would disagree. Unless you have to hold it in you arm for extended periods of time, the weight is more than worth it for the extra features in this tablet.
OK, enough sales pitch. What don't I like about it. The 14" screen is larger than than most tablet PC screens and has great resolution, but the I don't think 14" is big enough for a widescreen format. I find that I am scrolling a lot, up and down in landscape mode and left and right in portrait mode. Also, the external monitor connector doesn't have any screw-ins to hold the cable in. It's a small gripe, but why wouldn't you put them in?! Last, it seems that the digitizer sensing area is only as big as the screen, which makes it hard to get the taskbar with the pen (unless you have it calibrated correctly). It would be nice to have some extra area around the screen to ensure edge-to-edge accuracy.
A quick note about the hinge. I evaluated the hinges of several different tablet PCs from Acer, toshiba, and HP. The Gateway hinge is definately the most sturdy and rugged hinge that I've seen. The Toshiba (R15) and the Acer (don't remember) hinges were pathetic. The screens rocked side to side very easily. The appeared plastic. The Gateway hinge is metal covered in plactic and a bit wider than the others.
I hope this opinion helps. -
"mixed emotions. indepth review" on by SmyersM
Pros: Longer (than expected) battery life. cheap(er) than others. pen fits inside laptop. big HD.
Cons: Poor screen latch. keys skip. heavy. no bluetooth.
Summary: Well. They keys skip, so i find myself retapping keys on the keyboard. The latch is magnetic. And it has a 60-70% 'latch' success rate. It's heavy (but then again, if you are in class taking notes who cares).
I turned on my computer @ 10:30 am and it lasted (being used for notes) until 2:30 pm. I have the 8 cell battery (2.5 hrs of life). So maybe i got lucky, but that was day one. (i took an hour off for lunch however.)
When 'click drag' with the pen, it has a horrendously(sp?) slow drag rate. It can't seem to drag a scroll bar in Firefox... ah well, who cares i guess.
The pen sometimes 'offsets' about 2 inches to the right. I have to stop writing, wait a second, and resume. (meaning i write 2 inches to the right of where i mean to, when taking notes)
I got mine @ best buy for 1200. With roughly 250$ off their 'regular price.' (probably the price they paid a year ago for it!)
The backspace key has a much louder click noise than the other keys.
The center latch (i read) is the weak point for the laptop. if you are willing to 'baby' that area, i think it should be fine. I also read elsewhere that the gateway support can give you the runaround.
The scroll area on the touch pad NEVER worked for me. The volume control on the monitor NEVER worked for me. Brightness control works, (doesn't on my dell 9300!).
Please note that i am able to watch 1 movie without changing the battery on this computer with a 2.5 hr battery. And on my dell 9300 i am unable to get halfway through a movie with its 2.5 hr battery.
Overall i'm pleased, Yea there are some setbacks, but for the price and functionality -- i feel like i got value in my purchase -- and that's what its all about..
Oh yea, the battery bumb on the bottom is great for hanging the laptop on my knees when i type. (or write)
(the backspace button sounds like a bongo drum)
I had an averatec tablet pc. The battery life was 45 minutes. (each 5 hour external battery added 30 minutes life). It was so terrible i had no choice but to return it. It was an AMD processor made for desktops (earlier than their newer laptop line.) and it ran incredibly hot.
The fans on this laptop are not intrusively loud, like the other laptops i have.
I think the pen charges when inside the laptop. That's way cool. It's an RF pen, not touch. so it does have a battery inside. Though i can't seem to open it up to look at the battery type. The 'right click' button gets in the way, so when i'm writing i accidentally erase everything because right click drag means delete, or something that goes by so fast..
I got this laptop for movies, notes @ school, and homework. So far with the longer battery life (comparable to my 9300 programming machine) i'm pleased. Again, i've had 4 laptops over the last few years. Returned 1, retired 1, and actively use 2. This laptop is <overall> one of my fav's -- probably because of the benefits/functionality it gives me -- instead of outstanding gateway specific qualities.Updated
Man, on second review i see all my spelling errors. Oh well, that's what i get for not clicking the preview button.Updated
You must uninstall all the crapware that comes with this computer. They install 2 firewall/spyware programs, that compete for your attention. Every few seconds program a and b want to ask what to do about program x wanting to access the internet. Then they whine about wanting updates. I finally got long battery life by axeing all their bogus extra software.
Uninstall the AOL client too. It's impossible to cancel. Oh yes, if you accidentally start AOL they wont let you close the program until they have all your personal details. (no cancel, refuse to close) Try the CTRL ALT DEL button and end the task. Seriously, the program won't close otherwise.
I had the chance to buy a 200$ new laptop but i had to buy aol for 1 year. Let me tell you -- after trying to cancel it once, i learned my lesson. I've never said "no." so many times...
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